New legislation to end political interference in the ARC

Minister for Education Jason Clare yesterday introduced legislation into parliament to abolish the ministerial veto on Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, in an effort to improve the governance and independent decision-making of the ARC. The Australian Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023 comes in response to the Review of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (ARC Review), which was led by Professor Margaret Sheil AO, Professor Susan Dodds and Professor Mark Hutchinson.

The Review’s final report, released in April, resulted in 10 recommendations; in August, the Labor government agreed, or agreed in principle, to all of these. The bill implements six of the 10 recommendations; the remaining four do not require legislation.

Significantly, the bill establishes an independent ARC board that, instead of the minister, will be responsible for the approval of grants within the National Competitive Grants Program — putting these decisions at arm’s length from politics. The minister will be responsible for approving the funding guidelines, which will be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

The minister will retain the power to approve nationally significant investments, including projects which can drive research, infrastructure, training and collaboration. The minister will also have the power to direct the board not to approve a grant, or to terminate funding to research grants, based on national security concerns. The minister will be required to notify parliament of these decisions.

The legislation also enshrines the key role of the ARC to fund discovery research.

“Over the last decade, the ARC has been bedevilled by political interference and ministerial delays,” Clare said. “That has made it harder for universities to recruit and retain staff, and it has damaged our international reputation.

“That’s not good for our universities. It’s not good for businesses either who work with our universities.

“I promised to end the days of ministers using the ARC as a political plaything,” Clare continued, having been the one who announced the Review in the first place.

“This legislation will ensure the ARC is set up to meet current and future needs and maintain the trust and confidence of the research sector.”

Science & Technology Australia (STA) has welcomed the bill, having long advocated to abolish the ministerial veto on ARC grant funding, and says the new legislation will powerfully depoliticise research funding and deliver stronger transparency and accountability in decision-making.

“These changes will restore confidence in research funding, strengthen certainty for Australia’s outstanding researchers and prevent ministerial meddling in complex research funding decisions,” said outgoing STA CEO Misha Schubert.

“The sector is deeply grateful to Education Minister Jason Clare for implementing the review recommendations and to the panel for their thoughtful blueprint for modernisation.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Kokkai Ng